True Dharma Is Not For Sale

When it comes to Buddhism in the U.S., one important question is how we can support the dharma without making enlightenment another commodity to buy and sell? Our popular culture pushes the message that being successful or happy means getting a lot of attention for flashy skills or having a lot of money no matter who is exploited, including animals.

So it’s important for us in the spiritual realm to have some beacon(s) of hope we can count on to exemplify the spiritual values of simplicity, generosity and compassion. This model helps to maintain the value of the Buddha’s teachings, so that the dharma can retain its purity and survive the pitfalls of our materialist culture.

Zen teachers have the potential to model such values by contributing their light freely to their sanghas and communities that are impacted by their presence, practice and leadership. Of course other renunciate Buddhist teachers model the integrity of true dharma such as Theravadan monks and nuns. However, Zen teachers are in a unique space because many are caught between the monastic and lay teacher models. They have vowed to save all beings, but also to work in the marketplace. So when Zen teachers manifest the balance and energy to support themselves with regular jobs, while volunteering their teachings, they are manifesting the Buddha’s integrity in a profound way. One that shows all lay practitioners that the dharma is sustainable, even in a vapid materialistic culture. If teachers and sanghas can raise the Bodhi mind humbly and freely, so can anybody who sincerely wants to.

Of course, many people strive to participate as much as their families and jobs allow. This can be discouraging, especially if the bar for practice is set at “enlightenment”. So the hope is that no one feels they cannot get enlightened unless they become a priest, for example. If they need to miss the summer angos or sesshins they are invited to practice acceptance. Acceptance might be the most wonderful koan for our culture of discontent and insatiable craving. If there is not a way to be in the zendo, the practice becomes bringing the “zendo mind” to the jobs, families and activities that are available.

If there is frustration about missing zazen, practice accepting that it is ok to feel frustration. There is nothing wrong with missing zazen. If there is fear that without a lot of sitting no spiritual progress will be made, then the koan becomes accepting that it is ok to feel fear. And never forget, progress is overrated. When ‘no progress’ is embraced, then progress can be made, in the acceptance of no progress.

The Buddha’s true teachings have nothing to do with sitting 90 Day angos, or offering dana. They are accessible to all beings freely everywhere. Zen has manifested the dharma in its purity by transmitting the authentic mind seal from generation to generation, freely and simply. Of corse, teachers who charge exorbitant prices or molest students cannot possibly be considered ambassadors of the true Dharma Eye.

Currently, Zen teachers have the special opportunity and challenge to manifest the undefiled dharma eye in perhaps it’s most daunting culture it has yet encountered: the United States of America. By bringing the Bodhi mind into the work and family arenas, Buddhism is given the chance to bloom in muddy waters. This may be more interesting and inspiring than the lotus blooming in calm, clear waters.

If it is freely given and freely received it can maintain it’s integrity and purity. May all buddhas dedicate their merits to the Bodhisattvas at home and at work taking care of their children and their employees or customers. Let the merits help ensure that the true dharma will not be subverted by the inherent corruption replete in our materialist pop culture, run by those who would choose a dystopic marketplace full of snakes over the simple, pure freedom of an awakened people. A life where all Buddhists may manifest the true dharma teachings by freely giving, receiving and sharing one mind, one body and one heart.

About Herb Eko Deer

Herb Ein Eko Deer is a paradox, and he isn’t.

Born in Texas in 1968, his first kensho was as a born again Christian, which lasted until he got into drugs in high school. He experienced his next kensho after taking the formerly legal drug Ecstasy, and then several other drugs.

After becoming interested in Zen, inspired by Yoda, he moved to a traditional zen monastery in order to see if his kensho experiences were truly authentic from a certified zen masters point of view. They weren’t, so he decided to stay there and practice zen until he had reached an authentic state of enlightenment.

A former addict of alcohol, pot, cocaine, crystal, crack, sex, food and Facebook, in that order. He got sober in 2004 and now incorporates 12 steps into his teaching as koans. He calls this revolutionary process “12 Steps for Normal People”.

He completed his training at the Sweetwater Zen Center near San Diego with Seisen Saunders Roshi, where he currently teaches and works.

“My vision and hope is to continue to create a full time monastic training program that combines many styles of martial arts, qi-gong, energy healing,12 Steps for Normal People and tai-chi with the Zen. This vision is inspired by Yoda, obviously the most kick-ass character in the star wars series he is.”

Ein Eko believes that 99% of delusion is caused by emotional stuck places. Therefore, enlightenment is a primarily emotional experience that can be achieved through the practice of resolving emotional issues and patterns through koan study, 12 steps, communication practice, martial arts and 12,000 hours of zazen.

He thanks you for this opportunity to connect and invites you to visit his average blog site; zencomprehensible.com and order a t-shirt.

5 comments

Herb, you appear confused, not knowing what you’re really stand for. Should we pay a lot for dharma teachers or is the dharma free now? It doesn’t look very trustworthy and calculable to suddenly change your perspective on the matter a 180 degrees without mentioning how that occured.
Why not saying, “I contemplated further on the matter and you guys were right, we may not commodify and corrupt the Dharma.” Or whatever the reason was. It would shows more coherence and humility.

“So the hope is that no one feels they cannot get enlightened unless they become a priest, for example. If they need to miss the summer angos or sesshins they are invited to practice acceptance. Acceptance might be the most wonderful koan for our culture of discontent and insatiable craving. If there is not a way to be in the zendo, the practice becomes bringing the “zendo mind” to the jobs, families and activities that are available.”

It really was very hard – still is, at times – to accept that when life demands you to be somewhere else besides on the cushion or at the Zendo, that that’s where practice is.

Kids are great for that practice of detaching from one’s desire to practice they way one thinks practice should be practiced.

Currently, Zen teachers have the special opportunity and challenge to manifest the undefiled dharma eye in perhaps it’s most daunting culture it has yet encountered: the United States of America. By bringing the Bodhi mind into the work and family arenas, Buddhism is given the chance to bloom in muddy waters. This may be more interesting and inspiring than the lotus blooming in calm, clear waters.
–Herb Eko Deer

You might want to read a history book or two, Herb Eko Deer. Zen’s encounter with Imperialist Japan, for example, is probably not best described as “calm, clear waters.” Granted it may only be the unawakened who see mud in that case.

thanks fir your replies,
1-since i dont read any history books please feel free to tell what im missing. i have heard there are examples of zen gone wrong, so i hope you can appreciate my point that muddy waters are better for waking up, so i think we are agreeing, ironically.
2-thanks Mumon, i never got what Bodhisattva vow meant until i realized i was not making the spiritual progress i had planned for myself due to taking care of my daughter! i’ll take not waking up in order to be a good parent anyday! a win win!!
3-i am confused, incoherent and lacking humility, of course im also not very smart. i do stand for nothing, anywho, why apologize for a contradiction when both sides are false, if you are looking for consistency and humility then believe half of what you read and none of what you think.

Just rumors. Zen, the teachers of Zen, and all who practice Zen, are sublime perfection. Indeed, the “undefiled dharma eye” can only be manifested by the undefiled dharma eye. Buddhism will bloom in the United States of America because the undefiled dharma eye cannot fail. But if it doesn’t blossom, well, it’s not like anyone is keeping score.

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About Herb Eko Deer

Herb Ein Eko Deer is a paradox, and he isn’t.

Born in Texas in 1968, his first kensho was as a born again Christian, which lasted until he got into drugs in high school. He experienced his next kensho after taking the formerly legal drug Ecstasy, and then several other drugs.

After becoming interested in Zen, inspired by Yoda, he moved to a traditional zen monastery in order to see if his kensho experiences were truly authentic from a certified zen masters point of view. They weren’t, so he decided to stay there and practice zen until he had reached an authentic state of enlightenment.

A former addict of alcohol, pot, cocaine, crystal, crack, sex, food and Facebook, in that order. He got sober in 2004 and now incorporates 12 steps into his teaching as koans. He calls this revolutionary process “12 Steps for Normal People”.

He completed his training at the Sweetwater Zen Center near San Diego with Seisen Saunders Roshi, where he currently teaches and works.

“My vision and hope is to continue to create a full time monastic training program that combines many styles of martial arts, qi-gong, energy healing,12 Steps for Normal People and tai-chi with the Zen. This vision is inspired by Yoda, obviously the most kick-ass character in the star wars series he is.”

Ein Eko believes that 99% of delusion is caused by emotional stuck places. Therefore, enlightenment is a primarily emotional experience that can be achieved through the practice of resolving emotional issues and patterns through koan study, 12 steps, communication practice, martial arts and 12,000 hours of zazen.

He thanks you for this opportunity to connect and invites you to visit his average blog site; zencomprehensible.com and order a t-shirt.

About Sweeping Zen

Established in 2009 as a grassroots initiative, Sweeping Zen is a digital archive of information on Zen Buddhism. Featuring in-depth interviews, an extensive database of biographies, news, articles, podcasts, teacher blogs, events, directories and more, this site is dedicated to offering the public a range of views in the sphere of Zen Buddhist thought. We are also endeavoring to continue creating lineage charts for all Western Zen lines, doing our own small part in advancing historical documentation on this fabulous import of an ancient tradition. Come on in with a tea or coffee. You're always bound to find something new.

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